The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-12
JOLIETS CATALEPrIC LUNATIC.
Interesting Statements of the Case of Mrs.
John Hebert


Joliet CIll.) Special.
Mrs. John Hebert who has been in a state of
catalepsy ten months. and is now confined in ST.
Josephs Hospital, In this city, continues to at
tract attention far and The surgeon in
charge to-day gave the following medical and
scientific view of the case:
This is the most remarkable one
record of the kind by reason of the long contin-
ued duration persistence of the cataleptic
feature OF the disorder. The disease svmp-
tenn of cateepsy is usually of temporary dura-
ton, at least if long continued, is character
lied by intermissions A very prominent En-
Slish authority on nervous Diseases Dr. Ross,
says that when catelepsy is long continued there
Is very likely an error OF observation, and that
when such q reported being o contin-
ued case, or that the symptoms are continuous.
the intermsslons are not observed. This patient
has been under close observations for many
months, and certainly disapproves the claims of
Ross. Her cataleptic condition never leaves
her.
During the patients stay in the hospital her
general strength has improved On admission
she could not stand nor walk There rea-
son to believe that she was partly conscious,
but her eyes were closed, and her attitude that
of sleeping person. as well as her expression.
'Our patient is at least always semi-conscous
during the daytime. During the first two or
three months she was always quiet, with eyes
closed. but not forcbly, the skin cool, the tenn
perature below natural, slight flush of face,
pulse, soft. compressed and regular, and breath
ing shallow and regular. These are the usual
conditions of catalepsy, and these general symp-
toms never vary. Of late she has been able to
walk and has done considerable talking.
IA medical man visited her from st. Louis,
and advised the of cocaine. The remedy
tried and lad the effect to set her to talk
ing. The subject of the conversation was diet.
and repetition of the same thing We have
all heard the waitress say: Peach pie apple pie,
plum pudding, peach pudding Our cataleptics
talk was of this order after dose of cocaine
She woulo say: "A noodle soup. peach pie,
ham and eggs, cream pie probably continuing
these remarks all day and half the night. The
conversation became so monotonous on her
part that the cocoane was Withdrawn. Since
then the talk has subsidized.
The query will come up. Why is the cata-
lepsy SO long continued and the answer appears
clear enough. The woman is insane. and the
catalepsv happens to be a symptom of the brain
disease which causes both the insanity and the
cataepsy Medical authors make several CLASH
fcations of catalepsy. basEg the species and va
rietes or the different kinds, upon certain asso-
Citations. Thus perverson of functions of the
brain may result from fright. and one OF the
symptoms be catalepsy. When the brain recov
and other symptoms Danish, the cataepsy
will also depart. This would be species of
cataepsy The hysterica condition of the
nervous system may also give rise to associated
cataepsy. Sometimes attacks of epilepsy are
preceded by catalepsy. But catalepsy cannot
be associated with any other disorder: then it is
a law and disease unto itself, and is called es-
sentia catalepsy.
.Our cataleptic case was taken insane in the
first place. the insanity being due 10 heredity
and prolonged lactation and unpleasant family
relations. Her insanity was at first of the active,
maniacal, laxative type, followed by melan-
chola and the cataleptic symptom Since then
her condition has been the same. with the excep-
ton of the cocoalne period. and excepting fuc-
tuations of general nutrition. Expressing the
patients disease pathoogically, and in pathology
ical Technology, she is a cataleptoid lunatic.
1.-THE treatment of the case has been conducted
with the object OF increasing her nutrition gen.
orally, and particularly the nervous system.
The patient is fed regularly often, and with the
most nutritious food. The special treatment
consists of nerve tones and nutrients, and the
special nerve stmulants and alternatives afforded
hx-A rr1rrs and fyal 10 nIR nTny rf 4hA
case during the last two months leads us to hope
for her recovery"